Martinez: GOP in 'striking distance'

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) said Wednesday Republican opponents of the $410 billion omnibus spending bill are within "striking distance" of bringing down the massive measure.

Derailing the spending bill would be a huge victory for Republicans, and they might accomplish the goal with the help of a few reform-minded Democrats.

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Opposition to the sprawling measure has been growing for a variety of reasons, including a proposed change of Cuba policy, the inclusion of thousands of earmarks and the spending bill's overall price tag. But even critics of the measure are wary of blocking a bill that is essential to funding key government programs at a time of economic malaise. This omnibus spending bill is essentially last year's business — funding for a handful of government agencies for the fiscal year that began last Oct. 1.

But critics have latched on to the 8,000-plus earmarks in the bill, and the opposition has gained steam as the legislation has been debated on the Senate floor this week.

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With 60 votes needed to advance the measure, Democrats will need every vote with GOP opposition hardening. It's not clear yet if Republicans are completely unified against the omnibus — Republican appropriators have plenty of earmarks of their own in the measure.

Two Democrats - Evan Bayh and Russ Feingold - have said they'd vote against it, and Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) both said they're undecided on how they'll vote.

Sen. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) wouldn't say how he'd vote.

"We'll just take a look at the whole thing," Bond said.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said he's still weighing the package and he's concerned about the bill not moving through regular order.

"It's very unsatisfactory to have an omnibus here in march and it should have been done Sept. 30th," Specter said. "I'm not happy with the way we've abandoned regular order here in the Senate."

If Specter votes for the bill, it would be ammuniton on the campaign trail, where he is likely to face a conservative challenger in a primary next spring.

Democratic leaders declined to discuss the bill's prospects.

"We'll just have to wait and see when we end the process — every day is another day in the Senate," Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).